HHS chief presses for funds to combat bioterrorism

The Bush administration, responding swiftly to the anthrax scare, asked Congress Wednesday to approve another $1.5 billion to combat terrorism and bolster federal efforts to respond to chemical weapons attacks. At a Senate Governmental Affairs Committee hearing Wednesday, Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson also announced the Food and Drug Administration has approved new, low-cost drugs called doxycycline to treat anthrax. The FDA will publicize instructions on how to use the generic antibiotics to treat the inhalation form of anthrax. "Because these drugs are available in generic form and produced by several manufacturers," Thompson said, "they will be relatively inexpensive and readily available." Federal approval of the drugs came amid reports that the growing number of anthrax exposures has caused a run on the leading anthrax antibiotic ciprofloxacin, or Cipro. "Let me stress that there is no need for anyone to stockpile any drugs," Thompson said. "We have the drugs we need and they will be available whenever and wherever they are needed." In addition, Thompson said the White House soon will ask Congress to approve legislation to strengthen efforts to protect food supplies. President Bush's $1.5 billion funding request is six times larger than the $297 million allocated in fiscal 2001 to prepare and respond to biological attacks. Thompson said the request represents a "serious commitment" to combating bioterrorism.

Most of the money-$1.2 billion-will be dedicated to speeding up the production and distribution of vaccines and antibiotics. About $643 million is earmarked for expanding the National Pharmaceutical Stockpile and $509 million for speeding the development of the smallpox vaccine.

Thompson also said a team of top bioterrorism experts, including Office for National Security and Bioterrorism Chief Scott Lillibridge, have erected makeshift offices in a conference room paces away from Thompson's office. Thompson said the steps taken by the administration demonstrate that Bush is "committed to responding to bioterrorism quickly, in a coordinated and effective matter." At Wednesday's hearing, Thompson stressed that members of Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle's office have been exposed but not infected with anthrax. "That's very different from a bacteria ... creating disease in a human," he said. Although Thompson said it is "too early" to know for certain, he predicted, "They should not become infected."

Thompson also said it is premature to tell if the anthrax sent to Daschle's office was "weapon-grade"-the kind specifically made for use in biological warfare and having the capability of killing thousands of people if dispersed properly-or if it was the less potent variety, which can be concocted by an individual.

Meanwhile, anthrax was discovered in New York Gov. George Pataki's Manhattan office. The governor's complex of offices on the 38th and 39th floors of a building at 633 Third Ave. has been closed for further testing and decontamination work. Pataki said the offices would reopen Monday.